Machine for making wreaths



March 17, 1931. S Y

MACHINE FOR MAKING WREATHS Filed Jan. 7, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jwuentoz BQH H. sm ser March 17, 1931.

s. A. SMYSER MACHINE FOR MAKING WREATHS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1930 Ber-1 FI. sm ser Patented Mar. 17, 1931 BERT A. SMYSER, on TACOMA, WASHINGTON I MACHINE non MAKING WREATHS Application filed January 7, 1930. Serial No. 419,027.

This invention relates to machines for making wreaths, garlands, andfestoons, and has special reference to machines for fastening the leaves, sprays, flowers, berries, or other articles to the supporting wire, hoop or rope.

The objects of my invention are to provide a machine which will, first, make a wreath with great speed; second, make the wreath with the least amount of handling; third,

0 automatically feed the securing clips to the wreath as they are needed; fourth, bend the clips around the wreath base; fifth, permit a variation in the degree of bending of the clip in accordance with the amount and size of the material being clamped; sixth, provide a guide for the material about to be clamped to the wreath base; seventh, permit the operation of the machine without endangering the hands of the operator; eighth, provide an adjustment whereby clamps of various sizes may be used; and ninth, be cheapto make, simple and safe to operate, and effectively secure the sprays to the wreath base.

I attain these and other objects by the devices, mechanisms, and arrangements illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 7 r Fig. l is a side elevation of my machine at the beginning of a stroke; Fig. 2 is a similar view of my machine in the act of bending a clip around the wreath base and the stems of the spray; Fig. 3 is afront elevation of my machine, the partsbeing inthe same positions as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the clips; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the guide head; Fig. 6 is a vertical section thereof, showing also the end of the clip rail; Fig.7 is a front elevationof the clip pusher or carriage; and Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof, showing the cliprail in section.

Similar numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Heretoforewreathshave usually been made by winding a continuous binding wire or cord around the wreath base and the stems of the spray, in a helical manner. This necessitated that they be made byhand and was a slow and awkwardmethod. I have devised the hereinafter described machine whereby a wreath, garland or festoon is made a by clamping stems ofthesprays to the wreath base by means of clips. Such a machine,to be practical, must havea means which will automatically pickup and apply the clip without the necessity of the operator using Description My machine isprovided with a work table 1, whereon the wreath is made. This work table 1 is provided with two inner guides 2- and two outer guides 3. The wreath base l and the stems 5 of the sprays to be attached thereto, are laid in proper position between the pairs of guides 2 and 3, being held by hand at a point slightly removed from said guides until the machine has applied and clamped a clip thereto. The two rear guides 2, as well as the two front guides 3, are separated by a suli'icient space for the part of the machine carrying the .clip to descend therebetween, (Fig.3). 1 r r A. frame or standard 6, extends upward from the work table-1 to the rear of the above- ,described wreath guides, and is provided with a fixed arm 7 extending forward therefrom over the above-described wreath guides; A head 8 is formed at the upper end of the standard 6 and in front thereof.

An operating rod 9 passes vertically upward, from below the work-table 1, through the bearing 10, formed in the head of the frame. I The lower end of this rod 9 is not illustrated but should pass through a suitable hearing or guide and be provided with suitable operating means, which may be atreadle or a power-driven means. However, such operating means must not have a stroke of defined length but must vary in its motion in accordance with the degree of clamping to be applied tothe clip, as hereinafter described.

The operating rod 9 is provided with a boss 11, secured thereto, and positioned immediately below the bearing 10 when the said rod 9 is at the upper end of its stroke. A pair of long helical springs 12 are secured at their upper ends to the said head 8 of the standard 6 and at their lower ends to the said boss 11, to draw it upward when the operating treadle or mechanism is released.

The operating rod 9 is also provided with a lower stop 13, secured thereto, said stop being provided with a resilient washer 14, adapted to engage the lower side of the work table 1 to limit the upward motion of the said rod 9 under the action of the said springs 12.

An intermediate collar is secured to the operating rod 9 and is adaptedto engage and operate the means for bending the clip to the wreath base, as hereinafter described.

The above-mentioned boss 11 is provided with an arm 16, extending forwards therefrom over the above-mentioned fixed arm 7 of.

he standard 6. This arm 16is provided with a vertical hole 17 therethrough, adapted to guide the upper extension of the clip carrier, hereinafter described, and to permit a vertical motion thereof therein. It is evident that the boss 11 and its arm 16 move with the operating rod 9.

The clip carrier includes a main plate 18, rectangular in section, mounted in a vertical bearing 19, formed on the end of the said fixed arm 7 This plate 18 is'free to mov vertically in said bearing 19. An extension rod 20' upward from the upper end of the late 18. passing through the above described guide hole 17 in the arm- 16. A spring 21 is coiled around the extension rod 20 and bears against the parts 16 and 18, to resist compression. A stop-pin 22 passes through the upper end of the extension rod and is adapted to engage the upper surface of the arm 16 to limit the relative downward movement of the carrier plate 18.

T he rear part of the lower end of the plate 18 is cut away to make a fixed jaw 23 of the forward part thereof. A swinging jaw 24 secured to the carrier 18 by the pivotconnection 25. The lower end of the jaw 24 is complementary to thefixed jaw 23. The two jaws 23 and 24 are adapted torec'eive one of the hereinafter described clips between them. A small compression spring 26 acts bet-ween the carrier plate 18 and the swinging jaw 24 tending to close the jaws together, to hold the clipv firmly while being carried thereby. A lever 27 extends forward from the jaw 24 and is adapted to engage the adjustable bolt 28, screwed in the end of the fixed arm 7 when the carrier plate 18 is at the upper end of its stroke. A boss'29 is formed on the end of the fixed arm 7 to receive the said adjustable screw 28. A lock nut 30 holds the end of tlie bolt 28 in exact adjusted position.

- When the lever 27 thus engages the bolt 28 it causes the jaw 24 to open a sufficient distance to admit a new clip between it and the iixcdljiw 23 (Figs. 1 and 6').

The jaw 24 is also provided. with an operating lever 31, extending toward the rear to a point adjacent the operating rod 9 and adapted to be engaged by the above described collar 15, secured to the said rod 9.

It is evident that when the rod 9 is actuated downward, the spring 21 causes the carrier 18 to travel downward with it, the collar 15 being adjacent to the lever 31, but not necessarily engaging it, and the spring 26 causing the jaw 24 to lightly hold the clip 32 between it and the aw 23, until the end of the jaw 23 engages the work-table 1 and ceases its downward motion. At this time the rod 9 continues its downward motion, compressing the spring 21, and causing the collar 15 to press the lever 31 to swing the jaw 24 towards the jaw 23 and thus to bend the clip 32 and to clamp it firmly around the wreath base and the stems of the sprays.

The clip 32 is formed substantially as shown in Fig. 4, having a slightly arched central portion and two inward and downward projecting ends 33, which clamp around the wreath base 4 and the stems 5 when the arched central part is bent as above described.

The clip feeding mechanism is especially illustrated in Figs. 3, 58, and includes a head 34 depending down from the fixed arm 7 and having a horizontal hole 35 therethrough, said hole 35 being provided with a central lug 36, to which a plate 37 is attached. The plate 37 overhangs the lug 36 and its upper surface is shaped to substantially fit the lower side of the central part of the clips 32, the points 33 of which hang under the said plate. The plate 37 extends adjacent to, but not in contact with, the surface of carrier plate 18 so that when said plate is at the upper end of its stroke and the jaw 24 is opened. by the lever 27 engaging the bolt 28, the first clip 32 on the plate 37 is pushed 01f said plate and between the jaws 23 and 24, Where it is held through the-action of the spring 26 while the carrier 18' conveys it down to the wreath.

A long clip rail 38' extends from the head 34, said rail being shaped substantially as shown in section in Fig. 8. A clip pusher or carriage 39 (Fig. 7) rides on the rail 38 and is provided with an arm 40 passing under the rail 38 (Fig. 8). A cord41 is secured to the arm 40and passes horizontally, under the rail 38, to a pulley 42 mounted on the head 34, and thence to a pulley 43' mounted at the end of the rail 38, from which it hangs with a weight 44 secured to its end. Thus the weight 44 draws the carriage 39 from the outer end of the rail 38'towards the head 34, thus. pushing the clips 32, 011 the rail, and feeding them to the jaws 2-3 and 24 each time that the plate 18' reaches the upper end of its motion. I

Thus it will be seen that my improved machine provides a place in which the wreath base and the spray" stems may be manually held while being secured together; a continuous supply of clips; a means for transferring the clips from the supply to the wreath; and means for bending the clip around the wreath base and stems to clamp them together. As soon as one spray is thus fastened, the wreath base 4 is moved a short distance and another spray is secured thereto, said second spray overlaying the first spray and concealing the stems thereof, as well as the securing clip.

It is to be understood that, where [have mentioned this machine as making wreaths, it is not intended to confine it to this use but P that garlands, festoons and decorative ropes place it thereover; and means for bending the clip after it is in place.

2. In a wreath making machine, the combination of a fixed wreath guide, adapted to receive the wreath base and the spray stems; a clip; a carrier, adapted to convey said chp to the wreath base and spray stems and to place it thereover; and means forcperatmg said clip carrier, whereby said clip is bent around the wreath base and spray stems.

3. In a wreath making machine, the combination with a carrier plate, having a fixed jaw formed thereon; a movable jaw mounted on said carrier plate and adapted to cooperate with said fixed aw to hold a clip therebetween; and a spring interposed between said carrier plate and said movable aw and adapted to close said jawon the clip to hold it in the carrier plate.

I. In a wreath making machine, the combi nation with a vertical frame; a carrier plate slidably mounted in said frame; a rod slidably mounted in said frame; and resilient means interposed between said carrier plate and. said rod.

5. In a wreath making machine, the combination with a vertical frame; a fixed arm extending from said frame; a vertically movable rod mounted in said frame; a carrier plate slidablymounted in said fixed arm; means connecting said rod to said carrier plate; and spring operated jaws on said carrier plate, and adapted to receive a clip and to hold it while being moved.

6. In a wreath making machine, the com bination with a frame; a carrier plate slidably mounted therein, and having a fixed jaw formed thereon; a movable jaw mounted in said carrier plate and adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw to hold a clip therebetween; a spring interposed between said able jaw and adapted to engage said stop,

whereby said movable jaw is opened, against the action of said spring, when the carrier plate is in position to receive a clip between said jaws.

7. In a wreath making machine,,the combination with a frame; a carrier plate slidably mounted therein and having a fixed jaw formed thereon; a movable jaw, mounted on said carrier plate, and adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw to hold a clip therebetween; means whereby said carrier plate is moved downward to place the clip over the wreath base; and means whereby said movable jaw is forcibly closed towards said fixed jaw, when said carrier plate has reached the lower end of its stroke, to bend the clip around the wreath base.

8. In a wreath making machine, the combination with a frame; a carrier plate slidably mounted therein, and having a fixed jaw formed thereon; a movable jaw, mounted on said carrier plate, and adapted to cooperate with said fixed jaw to hold a clip therebetween; a rod, mounted in said frame and resiliently connected to said carrier plate,

whereby said plate is moved downward to place the clip over the wreath base; a lever on said movable jaw; and a collar on said rod and adapted to engage said lever, after the carrier plate has reached the lower end of its stroke, whereby the further motion of said rod operates the movable jaw to forcibly bend the clip around the wreath base.

9. In a wreath making machine, the combination of a fixed wreath guide, adapted to receive the wreath base and the spray stems; a plurality of clips; means for supporting and feeding said clips; and a carrier adapted to receive a clip from said feeding means and to convey it to the wreath base and to place it thereover.

BERT A. SMYSER. 

